Automatic opening device



Sept. 29, 1964 s. ROSENTHAL AUTOMATIC OPENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-SheetlFiled Jan. 9, 1964 L W ,Z 0 w T N5 A Wm U &. w% 0 8 Sept. 29, 1964 s.ROSENTHAL 3,150,560

AUTOMATIC OPENING mavxcs 7 Filed Jan. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR. 3 9 lam/r1944 u/w M 1 Ame/vizi- United States Patent Ofi" 3,ld,56fiPatented Sept; 29, rest 3,150,564! AUTQMATFC GPENEJG DEVECE SidneyRosenthal, West Newton, Mass, assignor to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Jan. 1964, Ser.No. 336,346

6 Claims. (Ci. 39-1) (Granted under Title 35, U. 5. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the United States Government for governmental purposes withoutpayment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates, generally, to rocket and satelliteinstrumentation, and more particularly, to an automatic, remote devicefor opening a pre-evacuated and sealed receptacle after arrival at apredetermined altitude.

Certain scientific tests require that a sealed receptacle be openedafter arrival at a predetermined altitude, and furthermore, that thereceptacle opening be completely exposed without any obstructingmechanical parts thereabouts.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a remote openingdevice for a sealed receptacle.

It is a further object of this invention to clear an opened receptacleof obstructions by dispelling the sealing means along with the openingmechanism.

Another object is to provide a remote automatic opening device which iseconomical to produce and which utilizes conventional, currentlyavailable materials that lend themselves to standard mass productionmanufacturing techniques.

Further and other objects and a fuller understanding of the inventionmay be had by referring to the following description and claims, takenin conjunction with'the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the invented opening device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the lines III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the invention of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view representing the device after the firingthereof.

With reference to the drawings, wherein. like numerals refer to likeparts, a cylindrical receptacle 5, sealed by a cap 6, is indicated inphantom (FIGURE 5) on the rectangular base 10. As illustrated, amatching surface 12, of arcuate cross-section is provided to securelyposition the receptacle 5 on the base 19. A spaced pair of squib bores14 are parallel to surface 12 and have outward openings 15 at one end ofblock 10. The block corners, at both sides of openings 15 have been cutaway to provide the mortises 16 as shown.

The plungers 20 within the squib bores 12 conform a typicalpiston-cylinder arrangement wherein the outward movement of the pistons20 may be activated by firing of the squib bores 12. As illustrated, theplungers 29 extend outward from base 19 and have transverse bores 23,25, which are aligned for passage therethrough of the connecting rod 28.

Means for fastening the receptacle on the base are provided by theU-shaped strap 30 which is fastened at each end by screws 33 to theblock 10. In the manner shown in FIGURE 5, the receptacle 5 is clampedon surface 12 with the cap 6 facing outwardly in the same direction asthe plungers 20.

A support member is provided by the yoke 40. The tenons 43 are engagedin the mortises 16 to position the yoke perpendicularly over cap 6, asillustrated.

Retractable means, in this case retractable pins 50, are used to pinyoke 4d at a rigid position on base 10. The pins 50 extend throughopenings in the tenons 43 and into cavities 13 which are alignedtherefore in base 10. The yoke 46 may be easily unpinned by retractingpins 5t) outwardly from base 10. As illustrated, the pins 50 have slots51 with cam followers 55 pivoted therein.

An anvil member 60 is positioned directly under cap 6 by notches in yoke40 and is firmly afiixed thereon by screws 63.

The opener lever 70 is pivoted at shaft 71 in yoke 40, as shown. Thelever has an edge 73 (see FIGURE 1) which engages cap 6 for removal byan outward swing similar to that of the common bottle-opener. Theremaining end of lever 70 fits between plunger-s 20 and has an openingthrough which passes the connecting rod 23.

Elongated cam members 89 are pivoted by their ends to connector rod 28,as shown. Spacers 81 assure that the cam members 8% remain at a constantdistance from plungers 20. The remaining ends of cam members have camsurfaces 85. As illustrated, the elongated cam members 80 slide withinthe slots 51 of pins 50 and between the cam followers 55 and the baseIt).

Squib firing means maybe any conventional mechanical or electrical means.to fire a squib charge 17. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 employs anelectrical firing by means of the wire leads 90, 91, which extendthrough the insulating inserts 194. To facilitate placement of the squibcharge 17, the insert 94 is placed within the externally threadedsleeves 96, which may then be screwed into a portion of the squib bore,as illustrated. Locknuts 97, 98, aiiix the sleeves 96 in place.

The aforementioned device may be placed in a satellite for firing at apredetermined altitude. Upon firing of the squib charges 17, theplungers 29 will move outward from base 10 to swing opener lever '70outward to remove cap 6. The anvil member 60 insures a clear breakbetween the cap 6 and receptacle 5. As the plungers travel outward,leaving squib bores 14, the elongated cam members 80 slide therealongwithin slots 51. Subsequently, the cam surfaces engage the cam followers55 .to retract pins 51 and unpin yoke 40. The momentum of plungers 2tcarry them together with the yoke 40, lever 70, and cams 80 outward awayfrom the receptacle 6.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that theinvention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap,comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within saidbore and extending outwardly from said base; means for fastening saidreceptacle on said base; a support member; retractable means to pin saidsupport member on said base; an opener lever pivoted on said supportmember to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardlytherefrom, said lever engaging said plunger for outward movementthereby; a cam member attached to said plunger and engaged with saidretractable means to unpin said support member by an outward movementthereof; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of saidplunger, lever, and cam, the momentum thereof carrying them and said support member away from said receptacle.

2. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap,comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within saidbore and extending outwardly from said base; means for fastening saidreceptacle on said base; a support yoke positioned on said base oversaid cap; retractable means to pin said yoke rigidly on said base; anopener lever pivoted in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereofby swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted to said plunger forout- Ward movement thereby; an elongated cam member pivoted by one endto said plunger and having a cam surface at remaining end, said cam,upon an outward movement thereof, engaging said retractable means withsaid cam surface to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap;and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plunger,lever, and cam, momentum thereof carrying them and said yoke away fromsaid receptacle.

3. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap,comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within saidbore and extending outwardly from said base; a strap fastened by eachend on said base to clamp said receptacle on said base with said capfacing outward as said plunger; a perpendicular support yoke positionedon said base over said cap; retractable means to pin said yoke rigidlyon said base; said means including a cam follower; an opener leverpivoted in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swingingoutwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted to said plunger for outwardmovement thereby; an elongated cam member pivoted by one end to saidplunger and having a cam surface at remaining end, said cam, upon anoutward movement thereof, engaging said follower of said retractablemeans with said cam surface .to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal ofsaid cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of saidplunger, lever, and cam, momentum thereof carrying them and said yokeaway from said receptacle.

4. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap,comprising: a base having a pair of squib bores therein; plungers withinsaid bores and extending outwardly from said base; a strap fastened byeach end on said base to clamp said receptacle on said base with saidcap facing outward as said plungers; a perpendicular support yokepositioned on said base over said cap; retractable pins extendingthrough said yoke and into said base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon,said pins having cam followers; an opener lever pivoted by one end insaid yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardlytherefrom, said lever pivoted by remaining end between said plungers forouwtard movement thereby; elongated cam members with ends pivoted onsaid plungers and having cam surfaces at remaining ends, said cammembers, upon outward movement thereof, engaging said followers withsaid cam surfaces to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap;and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plungers,lever, and cams, with momentum to carry them and said yoke away fromsaid receptacle.

5. An automatic device for opening a cylindrical receptacle sealed atone end by a cap, comprising: a base with a surface of arcuatecross-section matching said receptacle and having therein a pair ofsquib bores paralleling said surface with outward openings at one end,and said base having mortises at both sides of said openings; plungerswithin said bores and extending outwardly from said base; a U-shapedstrap fastened by each end on said base to clamp said receptacle on saidsurface with said cap facing outward as said plungers; a perpendicularsupport yoke with tenons engaged in said mortises to position said yokeover said cap; retractable pins extending through said tenons and intosaid base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon; said pins having camfollowers; an opener lever pivoted by one end in said yoke to engagesaid cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said leverpivoted by remaining end between said plungers for outward movementthereby; elongated cam members with ends pivoted on said plungers andhaving cam surfaces at remaining ends, said cam members, upon outwardmovement thereof, engaging said followers with said cam surfaces tounpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firingmeans to activate outward movement of said plungers, lever, and camswith sufiicient momentum to carry them and said yoke away from saidreceptacle.

6. An automatic device for opening a cylindrical receptacle sealed atone end by a cap, comprising: a rectangular base with a surface ofarcuate cross-section matching said receptacle and having therein a pairof squib bores paralleling said surface with outward openings at oneend, and said base having mortises at corners on both sides of saidopenings; plungers within said bores and extending outwardly from saidbase; a U-shaped strap fastened by each end on said base to clamp saidreceptacle on said surface with said cap facing outward as saidplungers; a perpendicular support yoke with tenons engaged in saidmortises to position said yoke over said cap; retractable pins extendingthrough said tenons and into said base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon,said pins having slots with cam followers therein; an anvil memberafiixed to said yoke at a position under said cap; an opener leverpivoted by one end in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereofby swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted by remaining endbetween said plungers for outward movement thereby; elongated cammembers with ends pivoted on said plungers and having cam surfaces atremaining ends, said cam members in said slots of said retractable pins,between said followers and said base and upon outward movement thereof,engaging said followers with said cam surfaces to unpin said yokesubsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activateoutward movement of said plungers, lever, and earns, with suificientmomentum to carry them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

No references cited.

1. AN AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPENING A RECEPTACLE SEALED BY A CAP,COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A SQUIB BORE THEREIN; A PLUNGER WITHIN SAIDBORE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BASE; MEANS FOR FASTENING SAIDRECEPTACLE ON SAID BASE; A SUPPORT MEMBER; RETRACTABLE MEANS TO PIN SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER ON SAID BASE; AN OPENER LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID SUPPORTMEMBER TO ENGAGE SAID CAP FOR REMOVAL THEREOF BY SWINGING OUTWARDLYTHEREFROM, SAID LEVER ENGAGING SAID PLUNGER FOR OUTWARD MOVEMENTTHEREBY; A CAM MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID PLUNGER AND ENGAGED WITH SAIDRETRACTABLE MEANS TO UNPIN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BY AN OUTWARD MOVEMENTTHEREOF; AND SQUIB FIRING MEANS TO ACTIVATE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAIDPLUNGER, LEVER, AND CAM, THE MOMENTUM THEREOF CARRYING THEM AND SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID RECEPTACLE.